Melissa Leo
Known for
American actress Melissa Leo, born in New York in 1960, is a thoroughbred performer who forged herself for years in supporting roles before achieving full recognition. Her harrowing portrayal of a desperate mother in 'Frozen River' (2008) earned her a first Oscar nomination, and shortly afterward she won the statuette for Best Supporting Actress for her combative matriarch in 'The Fighter' (2010). She has stood out equally in the series 'Treme' and in films such as 'Prisoners' and 'The Fighter'. With an intense, unadorned range, she specializes in tough women, marked by life and of great emotional truth.
Melissa Leo
92 Movies · 21 Series
American actress Melissa Leo, born in New York in 1960, is a thoroughbred performer who forged herself for years in supporting roles before achieving full recognition. Her harrowing portrayal of a desperate mother in 'Frozen River' (2008) earned her a first Oscar nomination, and shortly afterward she won the statuette for Best Supporting Actress for her combative matriarch in 'The Fighter' (2010). She has stood out equally in the series 'Treme' and in films such as 'Prisoners' and 'The Fighter'. With an intense, unadorned range, she specializes in tough women, marked by life and of great emotional truth.
Movies
Plays Georgia Hale
The Big Short
2015
Plays Holly Jones
Prisoners
2013
Plays Susan Plummer
The Equalizer
2014
Plays Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
Olympus Has Fallen
2013
Plays Ellen Block
Flight
2012
Plays Susan Plummer
The Equalizer 3
2023
Plays Diana Larson
Passenger
2026
Plays Sally
Oblivion
2013
Plays Alice Ward
The Fighter
2010
Plays Susan Plummer
The Equalizer 2
2018
Plays Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan
London Has Fallen
2016
Plays Marianne Jordan
21 Grams
2003
Plays Michael Temple
Guns Up
2025
Plays Laura Poitras
Snowden
2016
Plays Cheryl
Righteous Kill
2008
Plays Colleen
Everybody's Fine
2009
Plays Laura
Hide and Seek
2005
Plays Reverend Mother
Novitiate
2017
Plays Sally Jansen
Mr. Woodcock
2007
Plays Lois Riley
Welcome to the Rileys
2010
Plays Maddie
Unlovable
2018
Plays Kate
Charlie Countryman
2013
Plays Allie
Thunder Force
2021
Plays Rachel
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
2005
Plays Bette Altmann
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
2014
Plays Cookie
Streetwalkin'
1985
Plays Sara
Red State
2011
Plays Nancy Taylor
Conviction
2010
Plays Ginger Greene
King Ivory
2025
Plays Olivia
Long Gone Heroes
2024
Plays Madalyn Murray O'Hair
The Most Hated Woman in America
2017
Plays Dr. White
Body Brokers
2021
Plays Siobhan
The Clean Up Crew
2024
Plays Ray Eddy
Frozen River
2008
Plays Agnes Lessor
Confess
2005
Plays Olivia
Coast
2022
Plays Lillian
Measure of Revenge
2022
Plays Ceci Kimbrough
The Cake Eaters
2007
Plays Kathy Walsh
The Alphabet Killer
2008
Plays Ida ‘Red’ Walker
Ida Red
2021
Plays Mari
Veronika Decides to Die
2009
Plays Robin
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
2013
Plays Louise
American Gun
2005
Plays Margaret McKay
Black Irish
2007
Plays Francine
Francine
2012
Plays Penny
The Ever After
2015
Plays KC Collins
The Limbo Room
2006
Plays Deborah
Alone Together
2022
Plays Chandra
The Ashram
2018
Plays Karen
According to Greta
2009
TV Shows
Plays Kay Howard
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993
Plays Toni Bernette
Treme
2010
Plays Emma Shannon
The Young Riders
1989
Plays Goldie
I'm Dying Up Here
2017
Plays Nurse Pam
Wayward Pines
2015
Plays Concettina Ipolita Tempesta 'Ma' Birdsey
I Know This Much Is True
2020
Plays Lucy Gessler
Mildred Pierce
2011
Plays Donna Cheponis
Law & Order
1990
Plays Suellen O'Hara Benteen
Scarlett
1994
Plays Emma Bradford
Legacy
1998
Plays Ma Nguyen (voice)
BoJack Horseman
2014
Plays Amelia Meegers
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings
2019
Plays Sybil Perez
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays Julia Smith
Veronica Mars
2004
Plays Elizabeth Rourke
Shark
2006
Plays Kathleen Gilfords
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Tayna Raymes (1994 & 2007)
Cold Case
2003
Plays Sheriff Georgia Davis
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Irina Dzershinsky
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Maureen Curtis
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
Plays Lori
Broad City
2014
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Passenger
Full Filmography 113
Passenger
Diana Larson
2026
Film
The Knife
Detective Carlsen
2025
Film
Guns Up
Michael Temple
2025
Film
King Ivory
Ginger Greene
2025
Film
Long Gone Heroes
Olivia
2024
Film
The Clean Up Crew
Siobhan
2024
Film
The Equalizer 3
Susan Plummer
2023
Film
Jane
Principal Rhodes
2022
Film
Alone Together
Deborah
2022
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Melissa Leo and where are they from?
Melissa Leo is 66 years old, born on September 14, 1960 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Melissa Leo?
Melissa Leo is best known for roles in Prisoners, Oblivion, The Equalizer.
How many movies has Melissa Leo been in?
Over a 42-year career (since 1984), Melissa Leo has appeared in 92 movies and 21 TV shows.
What was Melissa Leo's first movie?
The career of Melissa Leo began with I'm Only There... (1984).
What is Melissa Leo's most recent movie or series?
Melissa Leo's most recent release is Passenger, which premiered on May 20, 2026.
What TV shows has Melissa Leo appeared in?
On television, Melissa Leo has appeared in Criminal Minds, BoJack Horseman, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Wayward Pines.
Melissa Leo
1960-09-14 · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Melissa Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She made her acting debut in 1985, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Ingenue/Woman in the Drama Series “All My Children”. Her most notable role as was as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on “Homicide: Life on the Street” for the show's first five seasons from 1993–1997.
Following several films, Leo received critical acclaim and national attention in earning several nominations and awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Leo earned several awards for her role as Alice Ward in the critically acclaimed film, “The Fighter” (2010). For this role Leo won the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Leo currently appears on the television series Treme.
Leo currently resides in Stone Ridge, New York and two sons John Matthew Heard (born 1987), and Adam (adopted - born 1984).